Falcons Travel to Muncie on Saturday for MAC Championships

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- The men's and women's cross country teams from Bowling Green State University will compete on Saturday (Oct. 29) in Muncie, Ind. at the 2011 Mid-American Conference Championships.

The 66th men's championship race begins at 11:00 a.m. and is scheduled to cover 8,000 meters (8K).  The 32nd women's championship follows at noon, and those runners will travel 6,000 meters (6K).  Both races will be held at Muncie's Elks Country Club.

Falcons' head coach Lou Snelling said, "This will be an opportunity for those competing to get more experience for future years, when our team expectations will be much higher.  Individually, we have a few athletes that could excel, if they are able to take the next step in their racing."

The men's team will consist of nine runners, including Jason Salyer, who was BGSU's top finisher at last year's MAC Championships.  He seeks to improve upon a 36th-place time of 25:42.9.  Greg Black and Josh Franek also competed at last year's championship meet.  Peter Miles participated two years ago.

Six members of the women's squad are slated to run in Muncie.  Each runner will be making their first appearance at the MAC Championships.

Members of the women's team who are redshirting for the 2011 season will also have an opportunity to compete on Saturday in two races to be held at BGSU's Whittaker Track next to Doyt Perry Stadium.  The Brown and Orange Classic will consist of a 3,000 meter race slated for 6:00 p.m., and a mile run immediately follows.

Snelling said, "We set this up to give the redshirts short-term racing goals.  There are many in that group that are displaying exciting amounts of fitness.  I believe there will be very respectable results in those races, and that will give us the momentum we need heading into the 2012 season."